Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

सामान्यं याचितं न्यासमाधिर्दाराश्च दर्शनम् । अन्वाहितं च निक्षेपः सर्वस्वं चान्वये सति

Transliteration

sāmānyaṃ yācitaṃ nyāsamādhirdārāśca darśanam | anvāhitaṃ ca nikṣepaḥ sarvasvaṃ cānvaye sati

Translation

பொதுச் சொத்து, யாசித்து பெற்றது, வைப்பு/அடகு, மனைவி, மேலும் நம்பிக்கையால் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்ட அல்லது வைப்பு செய்யப்பட்ட பொருள்—வாரிசர் இருப்பின் முழுச் சொத்தும்—இவை தானமாக அளிக்கத் தகாதவை.

Word by Word

• सामान्यम्: a common (deposit/pledge)
• सामान्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• याचितम्: a requested (loan)
• याचितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त, √याच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (requested/borrowed)

• न्यासमाधिः: deposit and pledge (two kinds)
• न्यासमाधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास-माधि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (न्यासः च माधिः च)

• दाराः: wife/wives
• दाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दर्शनम्: appearance/meeting (for viewing)
• दर्शनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अन्वाहितम्: property entrusted/handed over (in trust)
• अन्वाहितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त, √वह् with anu-ā-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निक्षेपः: deposit/placing in custody
• निक्षेपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वस्वम्: one's entire property
• सर्वस्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्वये: in the lineage/when heirs exist
• अन्वये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सति: when (it) exists/being present
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शतृ, √अस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rājan (King)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A donor stands before a brāhmaṇa with various items labeled as ‘deposit’, ‘pledge’, ‘common property’; a divine or sage figure gestures ‘do not give’ while pointing to a ledger/scroll of dharma; heirs and family stand behind the donor.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity must be righteous: do not give away what is entrusted, pledged, shared, or owed to heirs.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse lays down ethical limits for dāna.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avoid donating deposits, pledged items, entrusted goods, and property that rightfully belongs to others or heirs.